EP3461666B1 - Bearing device with an operating wheel and air vent with said bearing device - Google Patents

Description

A bearing device with an operating wheel, which can be used for example for an air vent, and an air vent with a bearing device are described. An operating wheel with a defined force for generating an operating force can be held via the bearing device. In addition, the storage device ensures that there is no tilting of the control wheel and no uneven gap patterns.

Control wheels are used, for example, in the case of air vents to regulate the amount of air supplied to and discharged from the air vent. For this purpose, the control wheels are coupled, for example, to a lever arrangement and to a locking device. The closing device can have a closing flap, for example. The control wheels can also be provided to control the alignment of air guide elements. In addition, control wheels can also be provided for controlling other devices.

State of the art

Conventional control wheels are only stored on a housing in the prior art, which results in large tolerances when the control wheel exits on a panel arranged on the housing leads. Accordingly, a sufficiently large gap must be selected all around at the control wheel outlet on the panel, which can also be asymmetrical. Due to the bearing of the control wheel on the housing, all geometries necessary for the position and alignment are located at this bearing point. A force-generating element in the form of a metal or plastic spring is also attached to the housing. The operating force specifications can often only be achieved after repeated tool changes until the housing produced in an injection molding process is designed accordingly.

In the prior art, an operating wheel is mounted on the housing via a pin, as a result of which the operating wheel is determined in only two directions. For the determination in the additional spatial direction directly on the bearing journal, a surface is required according to the prior art towards the housing and in the opposite direction a flexible element which has an externally partially exposed journal area which can spring inwards when the control wheel is mounted . However, this has the consequence that if the distance between the locking surface of the resilient pin region and the surface is too small, no locking is ensured. If there is sufficient distance between the surface and the latching surface of the resilient pin area, rattling and haptic restrictions may occur. The multi-functional design of the pin makes it an interface that is difficult to control from a functional and tooling point of view. The generation of operating force according to the prior art on the journal also has an unfavorable leverage ratio with respect to the torque and a smaller available installation space.

The bearing devices for control wheels according to the prior art have a large gap between the control wheel and a control wheel outlet on a panel. In addition, there are uneven gaps between the control wheel and the control wheel outlet on the faceplate and a tolerance-prone force generation, since there is an unfavorable leverage ratio from the position of the force generation to the point of application on the control wheel. The statements of the prior art therefore have unpredictable effects with regard to the gap pattern and the operating force.

It is out of the state of the art DE 20 2015 103 999 U1 known to rotatably mount control wheels on bearing bushes. DE 20 2005 008 666 U1 discloses a device for actuating assemblies with a roller body, the control wheel being arranged in a fixed position in defined positions and being displaceable in a plane running at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the roller body and against the force of spring elements such that a force and / or or a positive connection between the control wheel and the roller body can be produced, as a result of which the roller body is rotated and the non-positive and / or positive connection is separated again when the force is reduced.

To counter this problem disclosed DE 10 2009 051 297 A1 a storage of a rotatable control element on an air vent. It specifies that rotatable operating elements are subject to manufacturing tolerances, the manufacturing tolerances leading to an uneven joint pattern and a functional impairment, in particular the mobility of the operating wheel. Tolerance deviations between the Components of an air vent are balanced and an exact positioning of the control wheel in an aperture in the direction of the housing of an air vent is achieved in that the rotatable operating element arranged on an air vent and protruding from an opening in an aperture arranged thereon for the adjustment of a plate pack or an air regulating flap is articulated on the housing of the air vent via a ball joint.

The ball joint thus provides tolerance compensation and is intended to improve a joint pattern.

However, coupling the control wheel via a ball joint does not offer any possibility of preventing the control wheel from tipping over. In the DE 10 2009 051 297 A1 The device described therefore does not adequately solve the task set for it.

The prior art is over GB 2 232 238 A an air vent is known which has an operating wheel which is rotatably arranged on a bearing section of the air vent housing, the operating wheel being connected to the bearing section via a bearing plate and a screw. The control wheel is rotatably mounted on the bearing plate.

JP H07 149140 A discloses an air vent with an operating wheel, which is connected via a latching means to a bearing section of the air vent housing.

EP 1 033 269 A1 discloses an air vent with a journal on a housing wall of the air vent, on which an operating wheel is rotatably mounted.

US 2015/031278 A1 discloses an air vent with a rotatably mounted control wheel, which is rotatably mounted via a bearing pin and is supported on one side by a stop.

task

Compared to the known prior art, the object of the invention is to reduce the gap between an operating wheel and an aperture, to provide a symmetrical gap pattern and to indicate that the operating wheel is free of play. In addition, an easily adjustable operating force is to be achieved. In addition, the functional areas required for this should be clearly defined.

solution

• der Wandabschnitt ein Lager aufweist, welches beabstandet zum Lagerzapfen, der Blende abgewandt, angeordnet ist,
• das Lager einer Verlagerung des Bedienrads parallel zur Rotationsachse des Bedienrads in mindestens einer Richtung entgegenwirkt, und
• an der Blende eine Federeinrichtung angeordnet ist, welche das Bedienrad gegen einen Anlagebereich der Blende drückt.

The above-mentioned object is achieved according to the invention by a bearing device with an operating wheel, comprising a wall section with a bearing pin, a panel which is arranged on the wall section, and an operating wheel which is rotatably mounted over the bearing pin and in sections via an opening in the panel protrudes, whereby

• the wall section has a bearing which is arranged at a distance from the bearing journal, facing away from the panel,
• the bearing counteracts a displacement of the control wheel parallel to the axis of rotation of the control wheel in at least one direction, and
• a spring device is arranged on the diaphragm, which presses the control wheel against a contact area of the diaphragm.

The control wheel is rotatably mounted on the trunnion, with easy tilting possible. This tilting is counteracted by the bearing, which is arranged at a distance from the bearing journal. In addition, the control wheel on the essentially opposite side to the bearing is pressed by means of the spring device against the contact area of the diaphragm. The spring device therefore does not act on the control wheel in the region of the bearing journal, but at a distance from the bearing point. In combination with the bearing in the opposite area of the control wheel, this prevents the control wheel from tilting. The spring also counteracts tilting of the control wheel. In particular, the control wheel is pressed against the contact area via the spring, whereby the operating force can be adjusted. The spring can do this accordingly be trained. In order to be able to implement different operating forces, the spring can also be exchanged, for example.

A major advantage of the bearing device is the relocation of the bearing points to the screen and away from the axis of rotation of the control wheel. This can ensure that defined gap distances between the control wheel and an outlet opening of the panel are achieved. This prevents asymmetrical slit images. The spring also ensures that the control wheel is accommodated at the bearing point without play.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the contact area can have two holding arms projecting from the cover, which extend from the opening of the cover in the direction of the control wheel, and have contact surfaces for the control wheel, the support arms being on the side of the cover facing the wall section are located.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, two further holding arms can be arranged on the opposite side of the opening of the diaphragm, which have contact surfaces for the operating wheel, the operating wheel being accommodated between the holding arms and the pairs of holding arms.

The holding arms on the side of the panel facing the wall section serve primarily as a contact surface for the control wheel, whereby the control wheel is pressed against these holding arms via the spring. The holding arms on the opposite side can serve as overload protection.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the control wheel can have at least one slide ring element which extends in sections radially to the axis of rotation of the control wheel around the control wheel and is arranged in the area of the contact surfaces of the holding arms. The control wheel can be attached to the holding arms via the slide ring element.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one slide ring element can have a friction-reducing or friction-increasing coating. Depending on the materials used and the design as well as the desired operating forces, the sliding ring elements can be defined on the contact surfaces of the holding elements by means of a friction-reducing or a friction-increasing coating. In addition, damage to the holding elements or the sliding ring elements can be prevented by means of an appropriate coating.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spring device can be designed and arranged in such a way that it exerts pressure on the control wheel at a distance from the bearing journal. The position of the spring device is decisive for the operating force and safe storage in the spatial direction of the axis of rotation. The spring device preferably exerts pressure on the outer region of the control wheel. By shifting the force or torque generation into the diaphragm, a spring of the spring device can be made softer and more geometrically generous.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the control wheel can have a bearing opening, via which the control wheel is rotatably mounted on the bearing journal, the bearing opening on the inner wall having four bearing surfaces arranged offset by 90 °.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the control wheel can have end stops for limiting the rotation of the control wheel and the wall section can have stop surfaces for the end stops. In a further embodiment of the invention, an end stop can be made resilient, which enables easy assembly.

The object is also achieved by an air vent with a bearing device according to one of the configurations described above, the wall section being part of the housing of the air vent and the control wheel a lever or gear arrangement is coupled to a closing flap device for regulating the amount of air supplied.

Further advantages, features and design options result from the following description of the figures of exemplary embodiments that are not to be understood as restrictive. Brief description of the figures

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Luftausströmergehäuses mit einer Lagereinrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Seitenwand des Gehäuses mit Lagerelementen für ein Bedienrad;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Seitenwand;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Seitenansicht des Bedienrads;

Fig. 5

eine weitere schematische Seitenansicht des Bedienrads;

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Bedienrads;

Fig. 7

eine vergrößerte perspektivische Darstellung der Lageröffnung des Bedienrads;

Fig. 8

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Blende der Lagereinrichtung mit eingesetzter Feder;

Fig. 9

eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Seitenwand und die Blende;

Fig. 10

eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Seitenwand, die Blende und das Bedienrad;

Fig. 11

eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Seitenwand, das Bedienrad und die Feder;

Fig. 12

eine schematische Schnittansicht durch die Lagerstelle an der Seitenwand und das Bedienrad;

Fig. 13

eine schematische Seitenansicht des Luftausströmergehäuses und der Lagereinrichtung; und

Fig. 14

eine schematische Darstellung eines Bereichs der Blende und des Bedienrads.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an air vent housing with a bearing device;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of a side wall of the housing with bearing elements for a control wheel;

Fig. 3

a schematic plan view of the side wall;

Fig. 4

a schematic side view of the control wheel;

Fig. 5

another schematic side view of the control wheel;

Fig. 6

a perspective view of the control wheel;

Fig. 7

an enlarged perspective view of the bearing opening of the control wheel;

Fig. 8

a perspective view of the panel of the bearing device with inserted spring;

Fig. 9

a schematic plan view of the side wall and the panel;

Fig. 10

a schematic plan view of the side wall, the panel and the control wheel;

Fig. 11

a schematic plan view of the side wall, the control wheel and the spring;

Fig. 12

is a schematic sectional view through the bearing on the side wall and the control wheel;

Fig. 13

a schematic side view of the air vent housing and the bearing device; and

Fig. 14

is a schematic representation of an area of the aperture and the control wheel.

Components provided with the same reference symbols in the drawings essentially correspond to one another, unless stated otherwise. In addition, it is not shown and described components that are not essential for understanding the technical teaching disclosed herein.

Detailed description of an embodiment

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an air vent 10, in particular a housing 12 of the air vent 10 with a bearing device 40. The housing 12 has a connection 14 via which the housing 12 is connected to an air supply duct. The air supply duct is coupled to an air conditioning system. The housing 12 has opposite side walls, the bearing device 40 being arranged on the side wall 18. In addition, the housing 12 has a bearing 16, via which a closing flap (not shown in the figures) is pivotably mounted. The bearing shaft of the closing flap protrudes from an opening of the bearing 16 and is provided with a bearing ball 74 via a lever arrangement (not shown in the figures) (see, for example, this Fig. 5 ) coupled with a control wheel 60. The control wheel 60 is rotatably mounted on a journal 42. The bearing pin 42 is connected to the side wall 18.

A panel 20 is arranged on the housing 12 in the region of an air outlet opening. The aperture 20 has an outflow opening 22. Fresh air or conditioned air supplied via the air conditioning system is output via the outflow opening 22. A frame 23 surrounds the outflow opening 22.

In addition to the closing flap, the air vent 10 has a first group of lamellae and a second group of lamellae, the lamellae of the first group and the second group being mounted in the housing 12 so that they can be pivoted orthogonally to one another. A separate operating device is provided for this. For example, the direction of the slats can be changed using a control element that is slidably mounted on a control slat.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the side wall 18 of the housing 12 with bearing elements for an operating wheel 60. The bearing elements of the bearing device 40 comprise both the journal 42 and a bearing 50. The bearing 50 serves to limit a tilting movement of the operating wheel in the Y direction.

The side wall 18 has bearing openings 19, via which the first group of pivotably mounted lamellae is received with their bearing pins. The not-designated receptacle in the area of the bearing openings 19, which adjoins the bearing pin 42, serves to receive a fastening tongue 28 (see Fig. 8 ).

Fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of the side wall 18. The bearing 50 has two opposing contact surfaces 52 on. The operating wheel 60 is held between these contact surfaces, thereby preventing a displacement in the Y direction. The rotation of the control wheel 60 is limited via the stop surface 48. For this purpose, end stops 76 of the operating wheel can come into contact with the stop surface 48 and a stop surface 48 located on the opposite side. The bearing pin 42 has a tread 44 for the control wheel 60 and a section 46. Section 46 is conical. In the assembled state of the control wheel 60, the control wheel 60 is in contact with the bearing journal 42 with its inner wall only via the running surface 44. There is therefore no contact with surfaces directly adjoining the bearing journal 42, as is known in the prior art. In particular, the control wheel 60 cannot "grind" on wall sections in the region of the bearing journal 42, which extend parallel to the side wall 18. A limit in the Y direction beyond the bearing in the X and Z directions is achieved via the bearing 50 via the bearing 50. The bearing 50 and holding arms 26 (see Fig. 10 ) prevent the control wheel 60 from contacting these wall sections.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of the control wheel 60. The control wheel 60 has a bearing opening 66. The control wheel 60 is rotatably mounted on the bearing journal 42 via the bearing opening 66. In addition, the control wheel 60 has receiving openings 64. Holding elements 88 of a decorative strip 86 are received via the receiving openings 64 (see here Fig. 6 ). In addition, the control wheel 60 has a cutout 68. The cutout 68 is used to mount the control wheel 60 on the bearing pin 42. For this purpose, the control wheel 60 is placed on the bearing pin 42 such that the cutout 68 is located in the area of the bearing 50. After this Placing the control wheel 60 is rotated counterclockwise until the stop surface 48 is received between the two end stops 76 of the control wheel 60. In order to achieve this, the control wheel 60 has an arm 70 which allows the lower end stop 76 to spring during assembly (see here Fig. 5 ).

Fig. 5 shows a further schematic side view of the control wheel 60. The control wheel 60 has a slide ring element 62 on both sides. In the inserted and assembled state of the bearing device 40, the slide ring element 62 lies against contact surfaces 29 of the holding arms 26 of the diaphragm 20. In addition, the control wheel 60 has an arm 72 on which the bearing ball 74 is arranged.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the control wheel 60 Fig. 6 In addition, a chrome clip 84 and a decorative strip 86 for the control wheel 60 are shown. In the assembled state of the air vent 10, only the decorative strip 86 is generally visible through an opening 24 in the diaphragm 20. Part of the chrome clip 84 may also be visible. The remaining part of the control wheel 60 is arranged behind the panel 20 and is therefore not visible in the installed state. The one in the 4 and 5 The part of the control wheel 60 shown consists, for example, of plastic and is produced in an injection molding process.

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged perspective view of the bearing opening 66 of the control wheel 60. The bearing opening has two sections 78 and 80 on the inner wall. The two sections 78 and 80 each shrink starting from the outside Edge the diameter of the bearing opening 66 and have an obtuse angle to each other. In section 80 there are four bearing surfaces 82 which are arranged at 90 ° and which are designed, for example, as elevations. In the assembled state of the control wheel 60, it rests only on the bearing surfaces 82 on the running surface 44 of the bearing journal 42.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the panel 20 of the bearing device 40 with the spring 30 inserted. The panel 20 has on its rear side 25 four holding arms 26 which extend opposite the opening 24. The opening 24 is the control wheel opening, over which a portion of the control wheel 60 protrudes. The fastening tongue 28 is used for fastening to the housing 12. Between the holding arms 26 on the right side of Fig. 8 a holding element 27 is arranged. The holding element 27 is provided for the spring 30.

In the assembled state, the slide ring elements 62 of the control wheel 60 rest against the contact surfaces 29 of the holding arms 26. The holding arms 26 thus define the position of the control wheel in the assembled state and also prevent movement in the Y direction. Since the control wheel 60 is mounted directly on the panel 20, a defined gap formation can also be achieved between the opening 24 and the control wheel 60. In the prior art, the alignment and storage of the control wheel was previously carried out directly on the bearing journal on the housing. Due to tolerances and a required mobility of the control wheel, the control wheel then struck the edges of the opening and uneven gap patterns occurred.

The embodiment described here with a bearing point on the holding arms 26 directly on the panel 20, over which the control wheel projects beyond the opening 24, prevents uneven gap patterns and striking.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic plan view of the side wall 18 and the panel 20. The panel 20 is connected to the housing 12 and to the side wall 18 during assembly by means of the retaining tongue 28 and further latching elements on further areas of the panel 20. Before the cover 20 is connected to the housing 12, however, the control wheel 60 is first applied to the journal 42 in the manner described above.

Fig. 10 shows a schematic plan view of the side wall 18, the panel 20 and the control wheel 60. The sliding ring elements 62 lie directly on the contact surfaces 29 of the holding arms 26. Tilting of the control wheel 60 is additionally prevented via the bearing 50. In addition, the control wheel 60 assumes a defined position in relation to the panel 20 and thus to the opening 24.

Fig. 11 shows a schematic top view of the side wall 18, the control wheel 60 and the spring 30. The panel 20 is not shown in this illustration for reasons of clarity. The control wheel 60 is held in position via the holding arms 26.

Pressure is exerted on the control wheel 60 via the spring 30, so that the torque required to turn the control wheel is applied 60 about the axis of rotation R is adjustable. The spring 30 has a section 32 which is against a wall region of the Control wheel 60 presses. The section 32 can in particular exert pressure on one of the slide ring elements 62. The spring 30 also has brackets 34 which exert a pressure on the holding element 27 and are locked in place via corresponding openings. The position of the spring 30 is thus predetermined.

To adjust an operating force, the spring 30 can also be replaced by other springs. Due to the eccentric action of the spring 30 on the control wheel 60, the spring 30 can be made softer and more geometrically generous, which provides an improved operating force. Therefore there is no canting or high-grade movements.

The control wheel 60 can thus be determined directly on the panel 20 without overdetermination in such a way that a minimal and uniform gap between the control wheel 60 and the opening 24 in the panel 20 is realized. With the help of the spring 30, which ensures tolerance compensation, the operating force can be set directly where it is important for a user.

Fig. 12 shows a schematic sectional view through the bearing on the side wall 18 and the control wheel 60. The representation shows schematically the slight cross-sectional reduction in the central region of the bearing opening 66 of the control wheel 60 through the sections 78 and 80 tapering at an obtuse angle.

Due to the design of the bearing pin 42 and the bearing opening 66 of the control wheel 60, the control wheel 60 would tilt without the bearing and support of the control wheel 60 via the slide ring elements 62 and the holding arms 26.

Fig. 13 shows a schematic side view of the air vent 10 with the housing 12 and the bearing device 40. The illustration clarifies how the components are assembled, the operating wheel first having to be placed on the bearing journal 42 such that the cutout 68 is located in the region of the bearing 50 . Only then can the control wheel 60 be rotated counterclockwise, an end stop 76 via the sprung arm 70 allowing the stop surface 48 to be passed over for the finished use position. After placing the control wheel 60, the panel 20 is connected to the housing 12. The sliding ring elements 62 come into contact with the contact surfaces 29 of the holding arms 26. The connection is locked by means of corresponding locking elements on the housing 12 and on the cover 20. The control wheel 60 is then securely guided between the holding arms 26, tolerance compensation being provided via the spring 30. Furthermore, the spring 30 enables a defined operating force to be provided for rotating the operating wheel 60.

Fig. 14 shows a schematic representation of a region of the panel 20 and the control wheel 60, wherein a uniform gap image is achieved due to the design and arrangement described above. The uniform gap pattern results in particular from the mounting of the control wheel 60 directly on the panel 20 away from the bearing point for a determination in the spatial directions in the X and Z directions. Deviations due to tolerances can be eliminated by the spring 30, which presses the control wheel 26 against the holding arms 26.

Reference list

10th

Air vents

12th

casing

14

connection

16

camp

18th

Side wall

19th

Warehouse opening

20

cover

21

front

22

Outflow opening

23

frame

24th

opening

25th

back

26

Holding arm

27

Holding element

28

Mounting tongue

29

Contact surface

30th

feather

32

section

34

hanger

40

Storage facility

42

Bearing journal

44

Tread

46

section

48

Abutment surface

50

camp

52

Contact surface

60

Control wheel

62

Slide ring element

64

Receiving opening

66

Warehouse opening

68

Neckline

70

poor

72

poor

74

Bearing ball

76

End stop

78

section

80

section

82

storage area

84

Chrome clasp

86

Decorative strip

88

Holding element

R

Axis of rotation

Claims (10)

1. Mounting device (40) with a control wheel (60), comprising
   a wall section (18) with a bearing pin (42),
   a frame (20) arranged at the wall section (18) and
   a control wheel (60) which is rotatably mounted by way of the bearing pin (42) and which projects, in a section, beyond an opening (24) in the frame (20),
   characterised in that

   - the wall section (18) comprises a mount (50) arranged at a spacing from the bearing pin (42), which faces away from the frame (20),

   - the mount (50) counteracts displacement, in at least one direction, of the control wheel (60) parallel to the axis (R) of rotation of the control wheel (60) and

   - a spring device (30) urging the control wheel (60) towards a contact region of the frame (20) is arranged at the frame (20).
2. Mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the contact region has two retaining arms (26) which protrude from the frame (20) and which extend from the opening (24) of the frame (20) in the direction of the control wheel 960) and which have contact surfaces (29) for the control wheel (60), wherein the retaining arms (26) are disposed on the side of the frame (20) towards the wall section (18).
3. Mounting device according to claim 2, wherein two further retaining arms (26) having contact surfaces (29) for the control wheel (60) are arranged on the opposite side of the opening (24) of the frame (20), wherein the control wheel (60) is received between the pairs of retaining arms (26).
4. Mounting device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the control wheel (60) has at least one slide ring element (62) which extends, in a section, around the control wheel (60) radially with respect to the axis (R) of rotation of the control wheel (60) and is arranged in the region of the contact surfaces (29) of the retaining arms (26).
5. Mounting device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one slide ring element (62) has a friction-reducing or friction-increasing coating.
6. Mounting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the spring device (30) is so constructed and arranged that this exerts a pressure on the control wheel (60) at a spacing from the bearing pin (42).
7. Mounting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control wheel (60) has a mounting opening (66) by way of which the control wheel (60) is rotatably mounted on the bearing pin (42), wherein the mounting opening (66) has at the inner wall four mounting surfaces (82) arranged to be offset by 90°.
8. Mounting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control wheel (60) has end abutments (76) for limitation of the rotation of the control wheel (60) and the wall section (18) has abutment surfaces (48) for the end abutments (76).
9. Mounting device according to claim 8, wherein an end abutment (76) is of resilient construction.
10. Air vent with a mounting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the wall section (18) is part of the housing (12) of the air vent (10) and the control wheel (60) is coupled by way of a lever arrangement or gearwheel arrangement with a closure flap device for regulation of the supplied amount of air.

Images